Concrete form panel with snap-in facing



Nov.l1 A1969 RTMGEL 3,477,684

CONCRETE FORM PANEL WITH SNAP-IN FACING Filed Nov. 24, 1967 v 2Sheets-Sheet 1 myE/vmR RICHARD. r. DAG/EL Afrorn ey Nov. 11, 1969 R. T.DAGIEL CONCRETE FORM PANEL WITH SNAP-IN FACING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNov. 24, 1967 INVENTOR R/CHARO 7.' G/EL W Afiorney us United StatesPatent r 3,477,684 CONCRETE FORM PANEL WITH SNAP-IN FACING Richard T.Dagiel, Elk Grove Village, Ill., assignor to Symons Mfg. Company, DesPlaines, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 24, 1967, Ser. No.685,364 Int. Cl. Etl4g 9/02, 17/04; Ell4c 2/26 US. Cl. 249-189 8 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates generally toconcrete form panels and has particular reference to that type of panelwhich is commonly known as a Steel-Ply panel, is widely used by buildingcontractors in the erection of a concrete wall, a floor slab, or thelike, and is manufacturedand sold by Symons Mfg. Company of Des Plaines,Ill.

A Steel-Ply concrete form panel is illustrated and described in UnitedStates Patent No. 2,640,249, granted on June 2, 1953 and entitled WallForm Panel. Such a panel consists essentially of a shallow tray-likestructure in the form of a fiat rectangular plywood facing the marginaledges of which are completely encased in a reetangular metallicreinforcing frame (usually of steel) comprising longitudinal andtransverse frame members. Such a concrete form panel, when used in aconcrete wall or floor slab form, is adapted to be arranged inedge-toedge relationship with similar panels and in such a manner thatall the plywood facings lie in a common plane in order that wet concretemay be poured on or against the continuous unbroken concrete-supportingsurface that is offered by the plywood facings of the panels.

Steel-Ply panels of the aforementioned type are of sturdy constructionand, except when the plywood facings thereof are mistreated, they willlast indefinitely, many panels being reused in many different concreteinstallations or structures. However, under certain circumstances, itbecomes necessary to apply nails or other fastening devices to theseplywood facings or to cut openings therein in order to accommodate thepassage of water or steam pipes or electrical conduits. In suchinstances, the panels obviously are not reuseable without suitablepatching or repair. For these reasons, it has been suggested thatSteel-Ply concrete form panels be provided with removable plywoodfacings and several such panels have heretofore been devised.Invariably, however, to effect panel facing removability, it has beennecessary to make provision for separating at least one of thelongitudinal or transverse frame members from the adjacent framemembers. In addition, rivet cutting and re-riveting of the new panelfacing in place may have to be resorted to, depending upon theparticular character of the panel undergoing reconditioning.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-notedlimitations that are attendant upon the substitution of a new plywoodfacing in the metallic reinforcing studding of a Steel-Ply panel and,toward this end, the invention contemplates the provision of a novelconcrete form panel which does not deviate appreciably from theconfiguration of a standard. (Steel-Ply panel but 1n which the plywoodfacing thereof is capable of being snapped into position across therectangular opening that is provided or formed by the steel or othermetal studding. According to the invention, the plywood facing, when inposition, is securely retained. against the usual nwardly extending,panel-seating flange of the reinforcmg studding with such force orpressure that the facing will not be inadvertently dislodged by any ofthe foreseeable contingencies which arise during normal use and handlingof the panel. Retention of plywood facing occurs even when the panel issubjected to extremely rough usage, although it is to be understood thatdislodgment of the facing for replacement purposes is a voluntaryprocedure requiring the use of an appreciable degree of force.

The provision of a concrete form panel such as has briefly beendescribed above constitutes the principal obect of the invention and itis a further object to provide such a panel wherein the use of rivetsand other permanent facing-retaining devices is eliminated, thusobviating the necessity for perforating the plywood facing and also thedeleterious effect which takes place in the use of the panel underconditions of plywood shrinkage or swelling and the consequent looseningof the rivets and the exposure of the rivet countersinks to the pouredconcrete.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invent1on, not at this timeenumerated, will readily suggest themselves as the nature of theinvention is better understood from a reading of the following detaileddescription or specification.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of thisspecification, two illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded outside perspective view of a concrete form panelembodying the principles of the present invention, the plywood facing ofthe panel being shown in juxtaposition with respect to the metallicreinforcing studding preparatory to being installed therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one form of a panel-retaininglatch clip which is employed in connect1on with the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view illustratingthe manner in which one of the panel-retaming latch clips is initiallyapplied to the plywood facing, and also illustrating the manner in whichthe facing, with its installed clip, is subsequently applied to themetallic reinforcing studding.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the assembled panel and clip ofFIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. -6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view, similar to FIG. 31 but showing amodified form of panel-retaining latch c ip.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGS. 1 and4, a concrete form panel embodying the present invention is designatedin its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and includes a rectangularplywood facing 12 and a prefabricated and assembled composite marginalsteel reinforcing frame 14 (studding) for the facing. In the explodedportrayal of the panel 10 as shown in FIG. 1, the panel and frame areshown separated preparatory to assembly thereof, but in FIG. 6 thefacing and frame are shown in assembled relation. Both the panel 12 andthe frame 14 display the general characteristics of a conventionalSteel-Ply concrete wall form panel as illustrated and described inaforementioned Patent No. 2,640,249 and reference may be had to suchpatent for a full disclosure of such a panel. For purposes of comparisonherein, it is deemed sufficient to state that the frame 14 includes twospaced apart side frame members 16 and two spaced apart end framemembers 18, all of which are channel shape in cross section. A series ofangle pieces 20, commonly known as crossbars, have their ends welded tothe side frame members 16 and project across the frame at verticallyspaced regions, such crossbars constituting reinforcing members whichinhibit outward bulging of the plywood panel facing 12 under th' outwardthrust of the wet poured concrete. The side frame members 16 and the endframe members 18 are provided with slots 22 and notches 24 in order toaccommodate certain concrete wall form hardware such as various forms oftie rods and tie rod anchor devices by means of which opposed panels onopposite sides of a wall form may be maintained in their spaced apartrelationship and adjacent panels may be maintained in their properaligned edge-to-edge relationship, all in a manner well known in the artand 'fully illustrated and described in aforementioned Patent No.2,640,249. Such tie rods and tie rod anchor devices have not beenillustrated herein since they have no direct relation to the presentinvention. As shown additionally in FIGS. 3 and 7, both the side and endmembers of the frame 14 are provided with ledgeforming, facing-seatingflanges 26 which project inwardly of the included opening of the frame,these flanges, in the assembled reinforcing frame 14, providing acontinuous rectangular ledge surface 28 against which the longitudinaland transverse edge regions of the plywood panel facing 12 are adaptedto seat when the plywood facing 12 is installed in the frame. When thefacing 12 is thus installed in the frame 14, the planar front face ofthe facing and the inner edges, i.e., the rim, of the frame 14 extend incoplanar relationship and, in combination with the correspondingsurfaces of adjacent panels, establish a continuous smooth unbrokensurface against which wet concrete is adapted to bear when the same ispoured between the wall form sides.

The arrangement of parts thus far described is purely conventional andno claim is made herein to any novelty therein, the novelty of thepresent invention residing rather in the manner in which theplywoodfacing 12 is removably applied to the metallic reinforcing frame14 as will now be described in detail.

Removable application of the plywood facing 12 to the frame 14 iseffected solely by the provision of a rectangular series of spring steellatch clips 30, the details of which are best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.These clips are designed for permanent application to the side edges ofthe facing and, after such application, they present displaceable detentportions which are adapted to fit behind the adjacent portions of thefacing-seating flanges 26 so as to hold the facing 12in position on theframe 14.

Each latch clip is in the form of a one-piece spring steel stamping andcomprises a fiat contact plate 32 along one edge of which there isprovided a flange-receiving channel 34. The latter is defined by a flatchannel side 36 which extends at a right angle to the contact plate 32,a channel bottom 38 which is joined to the adjacent margin of thechannel side 36 and extends laterally therefrom, and a short channelside 40 which is in parallel relation to the channel side 36 and mergeswith a curved and generally semi-cylindrical detent rib 42. Awood-penetrating prong 44 is struck from the body of the stamping thusleaving a commensurately shaped void 46. Such prong is generallytriangular, has a blunt point 48, and is disposed at right angles to thecontact plate 32.

Assuming now that the completely assembled reinforcing frame 14 is tohave a fresh rectangular plywood facing 12 intsalled therein accordingto the present invention, the number of latch clips 30 to be employedand their dispos tio a ong the recta gular edg o the acing are firstascertained. Generally speaking, the specific number of clips employedis not critical, but obviously a sufficient number must be employed inorder securely to hold the plywood facing 12 in position within thereinforcing frame 14. In addition, the disposition of the clips 30 mustbe such that a substantially uniform pressure is exerted by the facingon the continuous rectangular ledge surface 28. It has been found thatin connection with a concrete form panel of the Steel-Ply type, the sideedges of the plywood facing 12 will be adequately captured in thereinforcing frame if two oppositely disposed clips 30 are employed foreach included opening between two juxtapositioned crossbars and arepositioned mid-way between said two crossbars. With a fairly wide panel,the end edges of the panel will be adequately captured in the frame 14if two clips 30 are carried or mounted on each end edge, each clip beingspaced from an adjacent side frame member 16 by a distance substantiallyequal to one-third the total or overall width of the adjacent includedopening. Where a relatively narrow panel is concerned, a singlecentrally disposed clip 30 may s uifice for each of the two includedopenings at the 0pposite ends of the panel. Irrespective, however, ofthe particular number of clips 30 that are employed, or the specificdisposititon of the clips, the essential features of the inventionremain substantially the same.

Having ascertained the proper number and disposition of the clips 30,the clips are installed by forcing the prongs 44 thereof into the edgesof the plywood facing 12 at the selected locations, suitable reliefareas 50 being provided in the rear surface of the facing so that thechannel sides 36 of the clips 30 may nest within these recesses and notform obstructions which, otherwise, would prevent the facing edges fromseating squarely on the ledge surface 28 that is formed by thefacing-seating flanges 26 of the side and end members of the frame 14.Additional relief areas 52 also are provided in the edges of the facingso that the contact plates 32 of the clips 30 likewise may nest thereinand insure coextensive nesting of the edges of the facing within theconfines of the overall rectangular frame opening so that there will beno gaps between the facing edges and the frame surfaces 54 (see FIGS. 3and 5) which they normally engage when the facing is in assembledrelation with the frame 14. After the prongs 44 have been drivencompletely into the edges of the plywood facing 12, the various clips 30assume the positions in which they are shown in FIG. 1, such positionsbeing more readily visualized by projecting the clip 30 of FIG. 3 towardthe facing 12.

After all of the clips 30 have been thus installed with their contactplates 32 seated in the relief areas 52 and the channel sides 36 seatedwithin the relief areas 50, the entire facing is bodily and forciblyprojected into the rectangular opening that is afforded by the side andend members of the reinforcing frame 14. During such projection thecurved surfaces of the semi-cylindrical detent ribs 42 make cammingengagement with the ledge-forming flanges 26 and the ribs are deflectedinwardly of the frame until such time as they move past these flanges,after which they will snap into position, so to speak, behind saidflanges and, thereafter, the flanges will become projected into thechannels 34 with a snug fit. The entire camming action is not entirelydissipated and, after the detent ribs 42 have moved past the flanges 26,the spring action of the clips will remain effective to draw the edgeregions of the facing 12 hard against the rectangular ledge surface 28so that the facing will not be loose in the reinforcing frame 14.

It is to be noted that the disposition of the woodpenetrating prongs 44on the contact plates 32 is such that the prongs overlie at least one ofthe plywood layers, thus insuring against splitting of the facing andalso af-, fording high resistance against lateral shifting of the prongsin the plywood.

Removal of the facing 12 from the frame 14 for replacement purposes maybe effected by simply forcing the facing out of the frame against thespring action of the various clips 30, the curved detent ribs 42yielding to permit such removal. A relatively high degree of force isrequired to remove the facing, such force being appreciably in excess ofany unassisted manual force that may be applied. One convenient methodof removing the facing 12 is to use a crowbar or similar tool such as alever and utilizing the crossbars 20 as reaction members, the facing maybe pried from its operative position within the frame 14.

In FIG. 7 a slightly modified form of panel-retaining clip 130 isdisclosed. Such clip is substantially identical to the previouslydescribed clip 30 and, thus, in order to avoid needless repetition ofdescription, similar reference characters but of a higher order areapplied to the corresponding parts as between the disclosures of FIGS. 2and 7. The clip 130, instead of having a single woodpenetrating prong,is provided with two such prongs 144 and 145. The prong 144 lies in aplane which is parallel to the channel side 136,W111l6 the prong 145lies in a plane normal to the channel side 136. The two prongs 144 and145 are of smaller magnitude than the prong 44 of the clip 30. By thuspositioning the prongs 144 and 145 in planes which extend at rightangles to each other and by spacing the two prongs apart on the conatctplate 132, one prong may penetrate the wood of the facing in a directionparallel to the wood grain while the other prong may penetrate the woodin a direction counter to the direction of the wood grain. The clip 130is installed in the same manner as the clip 30 and it servessubstantially the same function.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification asvarious changes in the details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore,only insofar as the invention is particularly pointed out in theaccompanying claims is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a concrete form panel, in combination, an open rectangularreinforcing frame presenting a substantially continuous internalseatingtlange, a rectangular plywood facing having its edge regionsconfined within said frame and bearing substantially coextensivelyagainst said seating flange, and a rectangular series of spring clipsremovably maintaining the facing in position within the frame andagainst said seating flange, each of said spring clips being in theformof a metal stamping having a portion thereof overlying at least oneof the plywood layers of the panel, said portion including means toremovably secure each clip to said panel, and each clip including adetent rib underlying and interlocked with said seating flange.

2. In a concrete form panel, the combination set forth in claim 1 andwherein the means to removably secure each clip embodies awood-penetrating prong embedded in the facing.

3. In a concrete form panel, the combination set forth in claim 2 andwherein the wood-penetrating prong projects into a side edge of theplywood facing.

4. In a concrete form panel, the combination set forth in claim 3 andwherein each clip includes a contact plate interposed between a marginaledge of the panel and the adjacent portion of the frame and on whichcontact plate the wood-penetrating prong is formed.

In a concrete form panel, the combination set forth in claim 4 andwherein the clip further includes a channel section encompassing saidseating flange, one side of the channel section being interposed betweenthe facing and theseating flange, and the other side of the channelsectiqn underlying the seating flange and constituting said detent rib.

6;. In a concrete form panel, the combination set forth in claim 5 andwherein the marginal edge of the facing is formed with a relief areawithin which the contact plate is confined.

I. In a concrete form panel, the combination set forth in claim 6 andwherein the edge region of the facing is provided with a second reliefarea within which the one side of the channel section is confined.

,8. In a concrete form panel, the combination set forth in claim 4 andwherein said contact plate is formed with a second wood-penetratingprong which likewise projects into the side edge of the panel facing,each prong being struck laterally out of the general plane of the metalof the stamping, one of said prongs lying in a plane which extendsparallel to said one side of the channel section and the other pronglying in a plane which extends perpendicular to said one side.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,581,843 1/1952 Edwards287-18935 2,640,249 6/ 1953 Symons 249- X 3,001,748 9/1961 Austin248-204 X J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner ROBERT D. BALDWIN,Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

